Super expensive flights to Bulawayo – click here

 

Colonial style swimming pool in Bulawayo 2012
Colonial style swimming pool in Bulawayo 2012

Apparently the most expensive flights in the world are those short haul flights in Africa between smaller cities. It is time to get back to Zimbabwe for another trek around the country in the company of Willy and Saffron the Peugeot. No problem for me, coming from Paris with a stop off in Johannesburg. Only getting stung so badly on the ticket prices from South Africa’s major city to Zimbabwe’s second city that proves a hurdle in my sprint back to adventure.

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My godmother Carol and Willy look a bit sceptical as to my motives for coming back to Bulawayo. I assure you it is to see your smilling faces. 

Though, the thought of seeing friends and family on the other side was a big motivator to fork out the cash needed to board South African Airways’ shuttle service to Bulawayo. In the meanwhile, I tried to think about other options. This shuttle has the monopoly on flights so that was an easy decision. There were rumours of a Namibian airline servicing the route but it was unreliable and at the time already out of business. I looked at trains, taxis, car rental, etc but they were all untenable. There is no public train connection between Jo’burg and Bullies at this stage. Pity, would be another great train journey.

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A baby Aloe ferox self-seeded in my garden. Spring is HERE!

In the meanwhile, I am ecstatic to be in my garden in Maggaliesberg about an hour outside of Johannesburg. The trees and succulents are so lovely in the late winter garb. Spring colours, new flushes of leaves, and blossoms all make me so glad to be visiting my garden.

 

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The garden is designed and love is looking lovely in late winter. Euphorbia tirucalli looks very red in these hot dry conditions and so attractive, no? Other highlights here visible are the bronze new shoots of Millettia grandis (centre), Aloe speciosa, and Baphia racemosa.

Most of the plants in the garden I grew from seed and so am attached personally to their development. In the above photo the plants on the Northern facing slope are often tender and here facing the mountains they can survive the winter cold. Also the added exposure to sun heightens the colours especially of the Rubber Plant – Euphorbia tirucalli.

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If only it were possible to hug a thorn tree! Acacia xanthophloea the Fever Tree.

The fast growing Fever Tree has lent its name to a fashionable brand of tonic water. The history of this is the trees association with boggish areas (a useful property in gardening) and thus with mosquitoes. From there it is a short leap of the imagination to blame the trees for malaria and therefore to name the cure for this disease in the form of quinine found in tonic water after the tree. Of course, this yellow green barked Acacia has no direct cause of malaria. Of course!

 

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View from the little pool of the ancient Maggaliesberg mountains just past the hand-shaped puce new leaves of Sterculia murex the Lowveld Chestnut.

Time for one last drink on the terrace over looking the mountains and to take in the atmosphere of the place where the oldest remains of our homonid ancestors have been found before boarding my super priced shuttle to Bulawayo next morning.

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Clever public planting at a Bulawayo shopping centre. Here a highlight – Albizia

In Bulawayo, the first stop is to stock up on Groceries. At the shopping centre they have planted a large variety of indigenous trees providing shade and interest as well as a pleasant tree-spotting activity to enhance the task of buying groceries.

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The tools of Willy’s trade – how macarbre.

Willy and I are cleaning house and there is a lot of stuff to go through. Willy is what some less-artistic people might call a hoarder – but what a hoard. There are a lot of stories to be told about the objects that keep popping up. Willy was once part of a team that was called in to identify burial sites from the wars and ancient burial site. He has the forensic tools with him that were used to discover the causes of death and the circumstances surrounding the burials. Very Crime Scene Investigation!

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Samuri swords and other antiques chez Willy. I think someone is ready for a garage sale?

Myabe it is time to throw some of these things away Willy? A shirt that is more holes than not holes is not even good to clean the house in anymore!

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Time to visit the tailor? or the local flea market at the very least.
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Corogated iron portico in a dusty olive green

I manage to get to see a lot of Bulawayo hanging out at the Arts Centre where local artists have studios and art exhibitions are held. Often the subject of these are controversial and during my visit the temporary exhibit are closed down due to its controversial nature. Perhaps this is what the artist’s function is but not everyone sees it that way. It is wonderful to visit with the artists in residence buy some of their work that takes your fancy and I will certainly be back here as soon as I can.

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Charming faux Cape Dutch seat of the Zimbabwe Medical Association in Bulawayo. Ubiquitous Jacaranda frames.
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It does what the sign says.
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Bulawayo architecture with an Acacia creeping into the frame.

 

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